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Zoom is a go in Williamson County Schools for middle, high school

The Williamson County School Board discusses new business at its work session on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.(Photo: Elaina Sauber)

After initially prohibiting the use of real-time video conferencing between teachers and students for remote learning, the district will now incorporate tools like Zoom video conferencing for middle and high school grades.

The move might serve as a trial run for future online learning if needed, WCS Superintendent Jason Golden said.

Last week, Gov. Bill Lee recommended that schools remain closed for the rest of the school year, and WCS said it would honor that request.

However, soon after, Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn assured parents that school would start again in the fall.

Meanwhile, parents are striving to follow the district's learning plan, released last month, equipped with online resources and lesson plans for students.

During the school board work session on Thursday, Golden and board members agreed that the district would move forward with implementing video conferencing to provide more robust learning at home.

When some parents initially voiced concern about the lack of video interaction between students and teachers in the remote learning plan, board members advocated in favor of the use of interactive technology.

"One of the biggest things parents value and miss is the face-to-face aspect of learning," board member KC Haugh, 11th District, said on Thursday.

"If Zoom can be rolled out quicker, that would be a big win."

Over the past few weeks, middle and high school teachers have participated in interactive technology training for tools like Zoom, Golden explained.

"We have been experimenting with using Zoom over the past few weeks, and we are excited about it," he said.

Other school districts such as Franklin Special School District have already incorporated video conferencing among most grade levels, while private schools across the county like Battle Ground Academy and Brentwood Academy have fully implemented virtual learning with a grading scale.

Students at BGA and BA log-in to their communication programs at the same time school would start each morning and "attend" classes on screen via Zoom and are given electronic deadline assignments.

Remote learning enhanced

Previously, Golden said WCS "erred on the side of being conservative" about real-time video conferencing at the March work session, citing concerns about the absence of a district policy or guidelines to use such tools.

Golden said inadvertent mishaps, such as taking a device into the bathroom, could lead to an inappropriate interaction.

However, he said the district's learning plan has been refined and streamlined as each day goes by.

"We have evolved over the past few weeks," Golden said about the district's adaptation to delivering remote learning.

Golden also shared at the Thursday work session that some parents are requesting more direct instruction, which can be accomplished by real-time videoconferencing.

WCS Director of Instructional Technology Kelly Wade shared a list of the primary programs that the district will now use to interact with students to promote learning. Some items were already in use and some programs like Zoom have been added to the list.

WCS Primary Applications for online learning:

ClassLink Dashboard

Google Suite for Education

Schoolology

Screencastify

Zoom

Some board members such as Candy Emerson, 8th District, encouraged district leaders to think about how to implement virtual learning more seamlessly in the future, such as making sure all technology tools are in the hands of students.

"If there is a chance we can be more proactive about this process, it would behoove us to make headway before we get caught in something like this again," Emerson said during a discussion about technology at a board budget work session last week.

Golden said the district is working on a plan to implement virtual learning in the event the district moves to full online learning as a necessity anytime in the future.

Building level teachers and administrators will communicate with families regarding learning schedules and tools from now until the end of the school year.